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After the holidays, I’m always reluctant to start putting Christmas decorations away. The house looks so festive and extra cozy and I want to soak up those feelings for as long as possible. It’s not until about the second week of January that I start to feel ready to embrace the new year. Clear out what now feels like clutter and return to our baseline.
But, as much as I love decorating for Christmas, putting everything away is another story.
It feels like a chore I try to get through as quickly as possible. Everything gets thrown into a bin, regardless of what it is. There never seems to be the same amount of tissue paper or bubble wrap as when I carefully unwrapped everything a month earlier. My mantra has always been: as long as it fits, and is somewhat protected, it’s good enough..
This year, though, I’m determined to approach packing up our Christmas decor more thoughtfully. This is also part of how we’re choosing to slow down and be more intentional at home this season.
Editing Before Storing Christmas Decor
Every year, I tell myself I’m going to go through our Christmas decor before putting it away. Donating anything we no longer love or haven’t used in the last few years. And every year, I’m so focused on getting the process over with that I put it off until the following year.
Well, not this year. Winter feels like the right moment for it.
I actually started editing when I pulled our decor out in late November. Pieces we hadn’t used in years, were pulled from the bins and placed directly into a donation box. Anything I felt unsure about was set aside. I made a mental note: if I didn’t reach for it this season, it would go when we packed everything away.
It’s inevitable that as we grow and change, our style evolves with us. Letting go of those pieces makes room—not just physically, but mentally. What remains feels intentional rather than excessive. It also helps me hone in on what I truly love. That constant process of examining, editing, and refining, brings clarity. Not only when decorating, but when deciding whether something new belongs in our home at all.
Finding Better Solutions for Storing Christmas Decor
Being intentional doesn’t stop with what we keep. It extends to how we store it.
In the past, items were tossed into whatever bin had room. Ornaments mixed with holiday serving pieces. Lights landed wherever they fit. I rushed through the process, telling myself I’d deal with it the next year. And of course, I never did.
Last year, I made a small start by investing in a holiday ornament organizer that holds up to 128 ornaments. It has adjustable dividers and stacks into drawer-like sections, making it easy to access without unpacking everything. Unfortunately, that exact one is no longer available, but I’ve found similar options that work the same way.
- This ornament storage box looks very similar to the one I purchase
- This slightly smaller option holds 64 ornaments and has the same drawer structure as the one I bought last year.
Another small upgrade that made a big difference was finally finding a proper storage solution for wrapping paper. I love beautiful paper, and until last year, I never had a good way to store it. Now everything, from rolls to gift tags and tape, lives together in one place.. Even Mike was impressed when I pulled it out to wrap gifts this year.
Some of the other items I want to find better storage solutions for include:
- Garland
- Wreathes
- Christmas china
- Lights
- Outdoor decor
We also started collecting vintage Santas this year. Mike and I found a couple thrifting together, and he gifted a few to me for Christmas. We also inherited several from my mother-in-law. Keeping these stored together makes the most sense to me so they are easy to find next year.
I’ve also accumulated quite the ribbon collection. Right now, it lives in various zip-top bags, but I’d love to find a single, dedicated solution so everything is stored together and easy to see.
With this approach, I’ll be able to clearly label each box and know exactly what’s inside. No more guessing or digging.
Creating a Calmer Start for Next Christmas
The biggest benefit of editing our Christmas decor and storing it intentionally is the clarity it brings. Both physically and mentally.
Removing items we no longer use or love cuts down on excess we’re storing. Right now, we have so many bins that we’re constantly shifting things around just to access what we need. Paring down frees up valuable space in our basement, making it function better and feel calmer
And I know that next December, future-me will be grateful.
A Gentle Reset
For me, this is one of the perks of “wintering at home”. Having the time to slow down, sort through what we have, and organize with intention. Letting go of what no longer serves us creates room for what we truly love.
If you’re feeling the urge to reset after the holidays, this might be a gentle place to begin.
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